The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-04-13
MEMPHIS DAILY PEAL--wEDNEsDAY APRIL IS. 1851.

AZ inc IOOt vi our piuhS hSatn ON6I u
Chelsea. Let as take one, only one,
OF cur contemplated western railway
connections to illustrate our position.
"The Memphis, Arkansas and Texas
Railway" is intended to penetrate the
great cotton and timber counties from
Memphis onward toward and into that
empire OF almost boundless wealth
the mighty 1lexas-tbrough Mariana,
Clarendon, Pine Bluff, Camden, and
SO on to jefferson, and such other con.
nections as will give Memphis direct
and immediate cheap freight conusc.
ton with that vast Colorado. The
thirteen counties alope between Men,
phis and the Texas State line through
which the "Memphis, Arkansas aud
Texas" road Is intended to run ought
in the future easily to add to Mem
phis's present annual cotton receipts
100000 balee, to say nothing OF the
immense general trade that will inev-
itahly follow "a a consequence this great
stream OF wealth; and to leaving
out of view altogether, also
the non.computable millions Of Texas,
which, like the man in the apockalyp-
tic vision said, "No man can number"
All this ami more belongs, absolutely
belongs, to Memphis, and is NOV with.
held s1lely for want OF the %transporta.
ton facilities, which Memphis should
vigorously help to provide. Now,
why should We suff3r our
interests to he neutralizsd by
side issues like the midland rail-
IeadH" That, like many other roads
pointing 10 Memphis, will be useful to
uS, but while being valuable to a de-
gree, will be, compared to the "Men-
phis, Arkansas and Texas" road, but
as q drop to a plentiful sho yer. II we
we're able l should not hesitate to urge
a general subscription for the purpose
OF aiding to build the several contem-
plated roads. But Our taxes already
aggregate about 4 per cent, per annum,
and therefore should not now
bs increased for any purpoSe
however plausible or spscious.
l am aware that my good
friend a1d excellent gentleman, the
attorney for the midland" the Hon.
Josiah Patterson, If given q good
opportunity, can make the worse ap-
pear the better part" and being a
learned, eloquent and adroit lawyer,
"Can easily q hair divide.
Betwixt tho south and southwest side;"
but with all this, l am not by any
means certain that even our high per-
sonsl regard for him and respect for
his fine abilities, a induce US to ruu
into a further dangerous indebtedness
to build another railway and especial
ly one which is by no means the most
important OF several now projected
here. Merchant" says the parties
heading the midland" movement,
"are strong and able to build the read,
but as yet they have not agreed to do
So" So we understand, and as wise
business men they are simply trying
to get our people to give them
as big q boost is they think
1t safe for Them to ask with
out endaugering their request. 1
make no war on them for that. On
the contrary, l am willing to contrib
ute personal assistance by investing in
their bonds, while objecting in toto to
sex any public indebtedness to be sad
died in our community. l think the
road, when completed, would be OF
far more profit to the owners than,
rela lively, to Memphis. / think that
all ths country bordering upon it,
from the Tennessee river in the vest
to the extreme eastern end of the
road, would find great profit resulting
from it's eompletion-profit resulting
chiefly from its terminus here where
we would bring with our western
reads the riches it would grow tat ia
transporting eastward. Memphis
would, 1 confess, likely reap much
benefit in securing the chief, trade OF
it's surrounding territory as far RS the
Tennessee river. Beyond that point
It's business would likely more benefit
othtr places than Memphis. To sum
up briefly, il we have money TO
subscribe for rail ways l believe
that every principle OF sound Judge.
ment aud good business sense demand
that, while admitting the value Of the
Midland and all other railroads GEN.
tering in Memphis, the Memphis,
Arkansas and Texas railway is of in.
fnitely more value and Importance,
and that il our people are to be epe-
cislly taxed 10 built any railroad, every
present and prospective interest of u
mechanics, artisans, merchants and
business men demands such invest
ment to be made to our westward.
WIN. r, MOORE,